At the final whistle, the two departing heroes embraced, while the warmth of the reception they received both from the Cardiff crowd and their fellow players spoke volumes for the esteem they are rightly held in within the game.

As for Wales, it was something of a mixed bag in terms of preparation for the three-Test trip to Australia, with only a few of the largely second-string side really putting their hands up.

There were some plusses in the performances of perpetual motion flanker Justin Tipuric, replacement scrum-half Rhys Webb and wing Harry Robinson, who marked his Test debut with a sizzling finish, while lock Ian Evans carried on from where he left off in the Six Nations.

And, of course, there was Hook, who excelled both with ball-in-hand and the boot, scoring 20 points as he staked a major claim to fill the No 12 jersey Down Under in the absence of the injured Jamie Roberts.

But there must be concern over the way Wales faded in the middle section of the game, while how to provide cover for Adam Jones at tight-head remains an abiding problem, as the scrum come under heavy pressure with him already in Australia with the 16-man advance party.

So there’s plenty for caretaker coach Rob Howley to ponder as he reflects on yesterday’s clash.

But, of course, it was also an opportunity to say goodbye to two greats and it proved a joyous retirement party for Shane and Martyn.

Such a party atmosphere always benefits from a pantomime villain and that was provided in the shape of Irish referee Alain Rolland.

It was the first time he had taken charge of a Wales game since controversially sending off skipper Sam Warburton for a tip tackle in the World Cup semi-final against France in October. When he appeared on the big screen just ahead of kick-off, there was a chorus of boos from some of the home supporters and that wasn’t to be the last time he provoked such a reaction.

Wales kicked off in convincing enough fashion, opening the scoring after just three minutes through the ever-versatile Hook, who started at inside centre and finished at fly-half.

That penalty was awarded when Baa-Baas scrum-half Richie Rees – wearing one Cardiff Blues sock and one Edinburgh sock to befit a man in the process of moving on – pulled Tipuric back off the ball after the flanker had kicked through.

The impressive Tipuric was to be at the heart of the early action, earning a penalty with some great tackle-jackal work in his own 22 and then claiming the decisive turnover that led to the opening try.

When Shane Williams was tackled in midfield, Tipuric was in like a flash to pilfer possession and that was the cue for the counter-attack which was to announce Robinson’s arrival on the international stage.

Lloyd Williams, Evans and Matthew Rees combined to release Robinson out on the right and with his opposite number Shane out of the equation, the teenager had the space to show what he could do.

He didn’t need a second invitation, putting the afterburners on as he scorched home from inside his own half, giving the covering Mils Muliaina no hope of getting across to him.

It was a blistering finish that brought the crowd to their feet and you had the distinct impression that you were watching a star being born.

Hook added the conversion and a subsequent penalty to give Wales a solid 13-0 lead, but in the final 12 minutes of the half, the game was to turn on its head.

As they got the socialising of the past week out of their system and started to gel, so the Barbarians began to show the quality within their ranks.

The tide started to turn when World Cup winning outside-half Stephen Donald skidded over on 28 minutes as he rounded off an attack he had started, with locks Mark Chisholm and Mick O’Driscoll linking up to put him in.

Donald converted and then came the incident that was to enrage the home fans as Rolland sin-binned prop Rhys Gill for a technical offence after Lloyd Williams’ attempted clearing kick had been charged down.

Williams twice redeemed himself with try-saving tackles, first getting underneath John Beattie and then causing Mamuka Gorgodze to spill the ball, with the TMO ruling out both “scores”.

But the Barbarians were not to be denied a third try, as Rees pounced when the ball went loose from a ruck, picking up and rolling over.

Donald added the extra two points to give the invitation side a 14-13 half-time lead which didn’t really reflect the opening 40 minutes but which would have left Wales with some thinking to do at the break.

If they needed any inspiration, it would have come six minutes after the restart when Martyn Williams came on for Alun Wyn Jones to win his 100th cap.

The reception for the veteran flanker was something to behold as he received a standing ovation from the crowd, while both sets of players and referee Rolland also applauded his arrival. It was a truly stirring scene and one which would have lifted the Welsh team, who soon went back in front through a third Hook penalty.

Williams, who took over the captaincy when Matthew Rees went off, then pulled off his try-saving tackle on Shane as the winger stepped inside and went for the line.

It seemed Donald had stolen the spoils for the Baa-Baas with a second converted try off a strong scrum, only for Hook to save the day.

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